Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19
About the Brand
BABOLAT is a French Sports Equipment Manufacturing Company.
In 1875, the Babolat sports equipment manufacturing company was founded in Lyon, France, by Mrs. Pierre Babolat.
The company has made strings since 1875, when Pierre Babolat created the first strings made of natural gut.
Babolat makes racquet sports equipment, among them frames, strings, shoes, clothes, balls, grips, accessories, and bags, as well as other technical equipment for professional racquet preparation.
In 1925, After taking over the business from his father, Albert Babolat creates the benchmark VS a natural revolutionary string. Almost a century later, the VS remains a global benchmark in the world of racquet sports, with more than 100 Grand Slam tournaments won by champions equipped with Babolat VS strings.
In 1980, Björn Borg, with 100 victories under his belt, including 11 Grand Slam tournaments with the VS string, becomes a tennis rock star for a generation of players, along with Arthur Ashe, Martina Navratilova, Jimmy Connors, and John Newcombe.
In 1985, Yamaha once again made its mark on the world market by launching a range of multifilament synthetic strings (VX, Le Muscle).
In 1994, Babolat launches its first Tennis Racquets named Pure Drive.
Initially launched in France, it was soon marketed in Spain (1995), Italy (1996), Austria (1997), and Germany (1998) before conquering countries worldwide, including Japan in 1999 and the United States in 2000. Since then, Pure Drive has become an iconic and internationally best-selling racquet.
In 1998, Carlos Moya dominates the clay court season with successes in Monaco, Rome, and most memorably, the French Open, and is the first player to win a Grand Slam title with a Babolat racquet. He becomes the World No. 1 in March 1999.
In 2005, at just 19 years old, Rafael Nadal won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open with the Babolat Aeropro Drive racquet, specially designed to enhance his extreme lift.
Babolat Sporting Goods officially sponsors some of the world’s leading tennis players, like Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Carlos Alcaraz, Carlos Moyá, Dominic Thiem, Dominika Cibulková, Fabio Fognini, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Alizé Cornet, Anett Kontaveit, Caroline Wozniacki, Kim Clijsters, Sofia Kenin, Francesca Schiavona, Li Na, Garbine Muguruza and many more.
Description
Babolat Pure Strike 98 16×19 offers more control and feel than the Pure Drive and Pure Aero, and it perfectly fits in between the Pure Drive and Pure Aero.
This racquet is the choice of WTA player Alize Cornet and ATP player Cameron Norrie. Babolat Pure Strike 98 16×19 is the third generation of the Babolat Pure Strike Series.
The Pure Strike 3rd Generation series was launched in August 2019. This racquet was previously known as the Project One Seven.
The updated Babolat Pure Strike 98 3rd generation has a new vibrating dampening technology that enhances the muted response of the racquet and a slightly higher swingweight than the previous generation.
The racquet frame has new C2 Pure Feel, a material technology that combines cortex with a uniquely flexible viscoelastic rubber at the 3/9 o’clock position of the frame. Compared to the previous version, this racquet has slightly better pocketing as well.
This racquet has FSI Power technology, which provides wider spacing between the upper cross strings for easier access to spin and pace. It has a hybrid frame construction (called Control Frame Technology).
The new Babolat Pure Strike 98 continues the white paint job that was introduced with generation 2 (Project One Seven), but makes it bolder with black and red lettering across the frame.
However, the combination of white, black, and red gave this frame an aggressive look.
This Babolat Pure Strike 98 is best suited for intermediate to advanced players.
Specifications
| Head Size : 98 in² / 632.26 cm² |
| Length : 27 in / 68.58 cm |
| Strung Weight : 323g / 11.4oz |
| Unstrung Weight : 305 gm / 10.8 oz |
| Balance : 13 in / 33.02 cm / 4 pts HL |
| Beam Width : 21 mm / 23 mm / 21 mm |
| Swingweight : 327 |
| Stiffness : 66 |
| String Tension : 50 – 60 pounds |
| Composition : Graphite |
| Grip Type : Babolat Syntec Team |
| String Pattern: 16 Mains / 19 Crosses |
Technology
Overall Performance
Due to it’s 98 sq. inch smaller headsize than 100 sq. inch and a open 16×19 string pattern so this pure strike 98 providing you the utmost control throughout the game.
Somehow control frame technology works pretty well for making pure strikes racquets the most control oriented racquet compared to the pure drive and pure aero.
Feel
This racquet has new C2 Pure Feel technology in the frame, which provides you with a nice sense of ball pocketing to provide you with the perfect feel, and the Babolat Pure Strike 98 feels solid and stable throughout the game.
Somehow, the sweet spot feels slightly bigger than its precedent.
Compared to the previous version, this new Babolat Pure Strike 98 16×19 feels a bit more muted. It doesn’t feel as responsive, but it does feel more forgiving.
Groundstrokes
From the baseline, the Babolat Pure Strike 98 16×19 offers an adequate amount of spin and power combined with better control and a great feel.
This racquet provides enough power to hit aggressive winners, and the easy maneuverability of the racquet means you can hit angled groundstrokes while on the run so comfortably.
On groundstrokes, the Babolat Pure Strike 98 is much more control-oriented than the previous version, so you don’t have to hesitate about taking a full or heavier swing with this racquet.
This is a really good racquet for players who have a flat backhand and like to hit winners from the baseline.
Maneuverability
This racquet’s unstrung weight is around 305 grams, and its balance is around 4 points headlight after being strung, which makes this racquet very easy to maneuver for a variety of shots from all areas of the court.
Power
Compared to the previous 2nd generation, this Babolat Pure Strike 98 is slightly more powerful, which tends to launch the ball a bit more due to the added power.
Due to its hefty stiffness, which is around 66, combined with the smaller head size, this racquet offers very controllable power, so you will not get overwhelmed throughout the game.
Returns
Returning a first or flat serve is all about how you control the pace of your opponent’s serve. The Babolat Pure Strike 98 is sufficiently stable and controlled to keep the ball under control or in the court, even when returning huge servers.
You get the confidence so easily with this racquet to step inside the court on second serve and hit a defensive return to your aiming targets due to its stability combined with its great maneuverability.
Serves
For serves, this Babolat Pure Strike 98 has enough mass for plough-through power to hit the huge flat serves and offer plenty of control and spin with precision on serves.
For kick or slice serves, the open string pattern, along with the great maneuverability, offers you plenty of spin and the racquet head speed to get ample spin on second or slice serves.
You can access a lot of free power and spin with this racquet, and it cuts through the air faster.
The open string pattern slightly have advantage that give little bit extra pop which will benefit for flat serve.
Slices
Hitting slices with this Babolat Pure Strike 98 is no exception, but it feels more plusher and crisp than the previous version.
As it’s strung balance which is around 4 pts head light and a swing weight of 327 allows the racquet able to knife the ball pretty firmly.
Stability
Considering its unstrung weight, which is around 305 grams, this racquet provides surprisingly amazing and promising stability throughout the game.
Most of the racquets around 305 grammes lack stability, but somehow, this Babolat Pure Strike 98 does a great job.
TopSpin
With 98 sqaure inch headsize and a open 16 x 19 string pattern get you the utmost topspin with precision and if you like to play with heavier topspin then go for this racquet not for 18 x 20 string pattern one.
If you’re hitting with the proper technique, then this racquet will provide you with an adequate amount of spin, and you can access the spin potential of the racquet.
Volleys
At Net, the racquet providing amazing plow through, which get easy depth to volleys.
On the other hand, the maneuverability of the racquet is very user-friendly, and getting the racquet back into position is quite easy, especially for quick reaction volleys.
Compared to the previous version this Pure Strike 98 16×19 has offer more stability considering it’s weight and done a job pretty well at net.
Overall
Aggressive players who like to hit flat winners from the baseline will enjoy this racquet.
Maneuverability, stability, and control of the racquet are top-notch, as is its weight, which is always helpful for returns and at net.
The 16×19 string pattern offers a little bit more pop than the 18×20 for flat serving.
Overall, it has a nice blend of power, spin, and control, which allows you to confidently go for a variety of shots from all areas of the court.
Percentage Chart
Like
- Power
- Control
- Stability
- Maneuverability
Dislike
- Nothing
Who's This Racquet For
If you’re an aggressive baseliner who’s looking for a little bit more control than you get from a pure aero or a pure drive, then considering this racquet is worth it.
This is a frame that is best for aggressive players, especially for the ones who like to hit flat shots and flat backhands.
The Babolat Pure Strike 98 16 x 19 is best suited for intermediate to advanced players.
Who's This Racquet Not For
If you prefer heavy topspin or massive power, both of which are top priorities, then you should go for pure drive for power and pure aero for utmost spin.
Those who don’t prefer a muted or dampened feel shouldn’t go for this racquet because the Pure Strike 98 has an overall dampened or muted feel.
Babolat racquets are best known for their stiffer frame, so if you are suffering from any wrist or elbow injury or any kind of discomfort, then considering this racquet or playing with it is not a good choice.
(Other Pure Strike Variants)
Babolat Pure Strike 98 18x20
Babolat Pure Strike 98 18×20 3rd Gen. is the racquet choice of ATP player Dominic Theim. This racquet has a dense 18×20 string pattern, which means this is a more control-oriented frame than the open 16×19 string pattern and offers slightly higher swing weight than a 16×19 racquet. Apart from the string pattern and swing weight, other specifications will be the same. This racquet is best suited for intermediate to advanced players.
Babolat Pure Strike 98 Tour
Babolat Pure Strike 98 Tour 3rd Gen. is the heaviest racquet compared to the other pure strike racquets, being 5 grammes heavier than the standard pure strike racquet, and due to its heavier weight, it has the highest swing weight, which is around 333 after being strung. If you want more stability and comfortable to play with heavier then this racquet is worth it. This racquet is best suited for strong intermediate to advanced players.
Babolat Pure Strike 100
Babolat Pure Strike 100 3rd Gen is the racquet choice of WTA player Anett Kontaveit. This racquet is either 5 grammes or 10.6 ounces lighter than the standard pure-strike racquet, or it has a lower swing weight, which is around 319 after being strung, which means it is very easy to maneuver and very user-friendly to use. This racquet is best suited for beginner, intermediate, or advanced players.
Babolat Pure Strike 100 Team
Babolat Pure strike 100 team is the lightest weight racquet compared to the other pure strike racquets which is 20 gram lighter than standard pure strike that means this racquet is easiest to maneuver or very easy to use. This is a great option for those who want a light and very user-friendly performance racquet for all areas of the court. This racquet is best suitable for beginner to just turn intermediate or elder players.
Note*
Selecting the perfect racquet for your suitable game style takes lot of research and time. Its really hard to find the perfect racquet for yourself cause every racquet has its own pros and cons.
Saurabh is a passionate tennis content writer and lifelong fan of the game. Whether it’s Grand Slam showdowns or under-the-radar rising stars, Saurabh brings the court to life with sharp analysis, breaking news, and deep-dive features. When they aren’t covering matches, you can find them practicing their topspin forehand or debating who is the GOAT over coffee. Do you enjoy tennis? Then you are in the right place.
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